Garbage can racks



March 22, 1960 J. A. M DOUG LE GARBAGE CAN RACKS Filed March 5, 1958 U'IIHI- I 1 i a Y H l2: 5

2/ 2a ya INVENTOR J14. MDozgle ATTORNEY United States Patent GARBAGE CAN RACKS Joseph A. McDougle, Shefiield, Ala.

Application March 5, 1958, Serial No. 719,446

1 Claim. (Cl. 211-7l) This invention relates to accessories used in the normal process of living and constituting a portion of the requirements thereof including the preparation of life sustaining foods, the consumption thereof and the dispositio'n of waste and leftovers.

The invention relates particularly to the disposition of waste foods referred to as garbage and to containers or receptacles in which such waste materials are placed prior to the disposal thereof, to the manner of holding such receptacles in vertical or upright position to prevent the overturning and spilling of the contents, including by dogs or other animals, and to a rack or support for holding such garbage cans or receptacles in upright position.

Garbage or refuse can holders of various kinds have been used, some of which have been designed to support the receptacle in a vertical position by engagement with a handle and other parts of the receptacle. However these have been complicated, costly and otherwise unsatisfactory.

It is an object of the invention to provide a garbage can rack of a minimum of material, fewest parts, and consequently economical and practical to produce and requiring a minimum of space for supporting one or two garbage cans and at an elevation above the ground in a manner that they will not be upset by dogs or other animals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack for residential use having brackets independently adjustable both horizontally and vertically to accommodate cans of different sizes and shapes so that neither bracket is dependent upon the other but can be adjusted to suit the height and taper of a particular can.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation illustrating one application of the invention; 4

Fig. 2, a perspective of the rack itself; and

Fig. 3, an enlarged section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Briefly stated, the invention is a garbage can rack or holder employing an upright post with an upwardly opening yoke on the top over which on opposite sides of the post the handles of a pair of garbage cans can be applied so that the cans will be suspended on opposite sides of the post, the post being provided with a series of spaced openings and a pair of brackets being provided with horizontal arms with spaced openings so that the brackets can be secured in adjusted position both vertically and horizontally to accommodate garbage cans of different lengths and of different tapers.

With continued reference to the drawing,- in Fig. l is disclosed a rack on which one or two garbage cans 10 and 11 of difierent types and tapers are adapted to be supported. The can 1% has a cover 12 and the can 11 a cover 13, the can 10 also having a pair of handles 14 and the can 11 having a pair of handles 15.

The cans are adapted to be supported each by a handle disposed between spaced projections or within an upwardly opening yoke 16 on the top of the post 17, the

Fatented Mar. 22, 1960 yoke being welded or otherwise secured to the post. The post preferably is constructed of one inch square tubing four feet long and is adapted to be disposed in an upright or vertical position with its lower end portion extending into the soil or other foundation so that when the cans are suspended by their handles in the yoke on the top of the post, they will be disposed in upright position on opposite sides of the post.

In order to provide a stabilizing support for each of the cans a bracket is provided having a curved portion 18 corresponding substantially to the curvature or contour of the respective cans, such curved portion being Welded or otherwise attached to a relatively straight supporting arm and having a series of openings 20 for a bolt 21 and wingnut 22 for adjusting the spacing of the curved member from the post 17, the post also being provided with a series of openings 23 for vertical adjustment of the supporting bracket.

In the use of the device the brackets may be supported by a single bolt 21 on opposite sides of the post in order not to interfere one with the other or the brackets may be vertically spaced and supported by independent bolts 21 to accommodate cans of different lengths and according to diiferent tapers on the cans requiring brackets further from the post to maintain the can in a substantially vertical position. The post is constructed preferably of one-inch square tubing.

it will be apparent from the foregoing that a garbage can rack is provided by which cans of different sizes may be supported both vertically and horizontally and regardless of whether the sides are straight or inclined and whether the handles fit flat against the can or are provided with stops and regardless of the fact that the can bottoms may be at different elevations on the center post, the brackets being independently adjustable on oppo'site sides of the post without interfering one with the other and with neither depending on the other, it being possible to use one or to use both. The rack of the present invention employs a minimum of material in its manufacture, is simple in structure and appearance and economical to produce.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

A rack for garbage cans comprising a post adapted to be disposed in upright po'sition, said post having fiat side portions, a U-shaped yoke mounted on the upper end of said post with the connecting portion of said U-shaped yoke seated on such upper end and with the legs of such U-shaped yoke extending upwardly whereby a pair of garbage cans may be supported one at each side of said post and the handles of said cans received over said legs, independent brackets providing independent lateral support for the lower portions of said cans, each bracket having a curved can-engaging portion and a spacing bar attached thereto, means whereby said brackets may be adjusted both lengthwise and transversely of said post for accommodating and providing lateral support for garbage cans of difierent lengths and with ditferently tapered sides to maintain such cans substantially in upright position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Salisbury Nov. ll, 1948 

